Abstract

DPPH-scavenging antioxidant potential of in vitro regenerated tissues of Stevia rebaudiana,Citrus sinensis and Saccharum officinarum was carried out to evaluate and explore new potential sources for natural antioxidants. These species are used in every day life and produced valuable secondary metabolites that scavenge toxic free radicals. Toxic free radicals can cause different diseases in human body. The ethanol extracts of callus, regenerated shoots and plantlets along with DPPH solution was checked after 10, 20, 30 and 40 min time intervals. The present study revealed that significantly higher activity (87.7%) was observed in callus of Stevia rebaudiana followed by regenerated shoots (86.3%) and regenerated plantlets (83.5%), respectively. The antioxidant potential in callus of C. sinensis was recorded 51.8% while regenerated shoots and plantlets exhibit 56.4 and 49% activity. Minimum activity was recorded in callus (48.8%) of S. officinarum in overall experiment but regenerated shoots exhibit 77.01% activity seconded by plantlets (54.94%). The present study revealed that in vitro regenerated tissues of S. rebaudiana scavenge and detoxify more DPPH free radicals than C. sinensis and S. officinarum (S. rebaudiana > C. sinensis ≥ ≤ S. officinarum).

Key words: Stevia rebaudiana, Citrus sinensis, Saccharum officinarum, antioxidant.